Lock nozzled electrode



Sept. 22, 1970 1 A, HENSCHEL ET AL 3,530,328

LOCK NOZZLED ELECTRODE Filed May 27, 1968 INVENTORQ United States Patent Filed May 27, 1968, Ser. No. 732,147 Int. Cl. H01j 1 7/ 04 U.S. Cl. 313-217 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLSURE A gaseous discharge tube of the cold cathode type for use in illuminating a characterized signboard, said tube ybeing composed of transparent flexible plastic material having a pair of both polarized and energized electrodes established in sealed communication with the lumen of a finite length of said tubing. Each said electrode having means for establishing said lumen into communication with the atmosphere or a neon gas stored within a container selectively; whereby an initial charge of said gas ingressing within one end of said lumen through one of said electrodes will force the air lodged within said lumen to egress from the opposite end of said lumen through the second said electrode by virtue of its inherent substantially pressurized characteristic; thereby, the luminescence of said tube will be established by the ionization of said gas by virtue of said energized electrodes, when said charge of gas is sealed within said lumen by the closed position of said electrodes, wherein the latter said position of each said electrode defines herein a lock nozzled electrode.

Our invention relates to a cold cathode gaseous discharge tube composed of a iiexible transparent plastic, for use in illuminating a characterized signboard, and more specifically to the composite of the tubes electrodes.

Our invention resides in an electrode having an axial bore therethrough constituting a nozzled electrode provided integrally with a normally closed valve constituting a lock nozzled electrode, for use in pairs with the opposite open ends of a iiexible transparent tube composed of plastic, whereby a neon gas ingressing the lumen of said tube through a communicating port of one said valve will forcibly influence a column of air as may be disposed within the lumen of said tube to egress through the open port of the second said valve; thereby instantly establishing a gaseous discharge tube adapted to produce a luminous body as when the atoms of the gas are ionized by conventional means.

The main object of our invention is to provide the means for sealing a neon gas within the lumen of a exible tube composed of plastic.

Another object of our invention is to provide the means for ejecting a column of air that may be disposed in the lumen of a tube of the afore-mentioned characteristics to the atmosphere substantially simultaneously to the ingress of a neon gas within the lumen of said tube.

A further object of our invention is to provide the means for servicing said tube, as lwhen said tube is interwoven with the characters of a signboard.

Another and important object of our invention is to provide a means for quickly and easily reclaiming the electrodes of said gaseous discharge tube for the re-use thereof.

Additional objects and advantages of our invention shall henceforth become apparent from the following description as related to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a view in side elevation of a characterized signboard having our invention applied thereto, as vis- Patented Sept. 22, i970 ually illustrated through the sights provided with the signboard therethrough.

FIG. 2 is a reverse View of FIG. l, and which view further illustrates other components that are adapted for use with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a View in transverse section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of our invention taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, and which View is shown in side elevation having a portion thereof shown in broken lines in order to disclose inner components of construction.

FIG. 5 is a view in end elevation taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view in transverse section taken substantially on the line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a view in transverse section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in details to the drawing with particular reference being had to FIGS. l, 2, 3, and 8 respectively, wherein the numeral 15 is shown to designate the base of a characterized sign board 116. The base 15 may be composed of any suitable material, as for example, Formica, plywood, or metal, our preference being zinc plated sheet metal provided with a suitable and selective colored baked enamel paint, which serves as a shield to enhance its endurance when exposed to the elements of the weather. The metal being known to users thereof, as economical, when considered in the light of its intended use, and further it is easy to cut into selective configurations as so may be desired, and relatively easy to stiien against deformation, to some extent.

The base wall 15 associated with the signboard 16 is shown to be characterized by the selective respective letters 17, for the purpose of conveying an idea to the general public, with the selection of the plurality thereof being merely chosen by way of example only.

Each of the respective letters 17 comprises a plurality of lineal strips 18 of selective lengths, which are composed of a resilient body, such as hard rubber, having a substantially triangular cross section, as illustrated in FIG. 8, which transverses an open ended semi-circular channel 19 that extends openly and medially through the apex thereof, and which channel 19 serves for a henceforth described purpose. Each of the selective lengths of the lineal strips 18 is provided with a pre-distributed cementious coating along the under-side face 20 of the base thereof, which serves as a means for lixedly adhering the lineal strips 18 within a selective area located upon the display face of the base wall 15. Further, each respective rubber strip is provided with identical punched openings 21, 21, adjacent the opposite ends thereof respectively, and which openings correspond to identical openings provided in the base wall 15 therethrough. The openings 21, 21, serve as a means to pass therethrough intermediate opposite end portions of an interposed body portion 23 of a finite length of flexible tubing 22, in a manner whereby a semicircular body portion of the interposed tubular body portion 23 may be detachably secured in press-tting complementary extensible relation with each respective strip channel 19, as by the inter-weaving of the remaining end portions of the tube 22 with both the base wall 15 and the remaining rubber strips 18, as is illustrated in both FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein it is shown that certain interposed body portions 24 of the tube 22 that serve to bridge each respective letter 17 is disposed in contiguous relation with the rear-ward side face 25 of the base wall 15, with the opposite end portions 26 and 27 of the tube 22 being disposed adjacent thereto.

The exible tube 22 is composed of a transparent plastic known as Tygon, which is known to possess the inherent characteristics of being substantially tire resistant, shockproof, resistant to the elements of the weather, and a durable nonporous wall which may readily serve as an envelope for sealing a neon gas therein, and to which our invention is readily adaptable therewith.

Now with reference being had to FIGS. 4 and 7 there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention which comprises in combination an elongated cylindrical body member 30 having a reduced cylindrical end portion 31, that is provided with an axial bore 32 therethrough whereby defining a tube nipple 33, and further, the tube nipple 33 is provided in the peripheral surface thereof with a pair of identical radially spaced diametrically disposed and opposed sector shaped channel members 34, 34 which serves for a henceforth described purpose. The nipple bore 32 serves to secure both in press fitting and extensible relation therewith a complementary electrode 35 composed of copper provided with an axial bore 36 therethrough whereby defining a nozzled electrode 37. The electrode bore 36 serves in turn to communicate with a co-axially aligned bore 38 provided in the body member 30 adjacent the should 39 thereof, and which bore 38, serves in turn to communicate with an enlarged bore 40 which is co-axially aligned therewith, and which bore 40 is defined henceforth as valve cylinder 40, which is established in communication with an enlarged bore 41 disposed in axial relation therewith, and which bore 41 extends open through the tree end of the body member 30. Henceforth the bore 3l shall be dened as a stutling box 41, which is surrounded by the exteriorly threaded rim 42, thereabout. The valve cylinder 40 serves to house therein a complementary cylindrical member 43 defined henceforth as a valve core 43 which is disposed in rotatable sealed relation therewith. The valve core 43 is provided with a reduced end portion 44 which passes concentrically through the stuffing box 41 and terminates in extensible relation therewith, and henceforth shall be defined as spindle 44 which is provided with a diametrically disposed recessed channel 46 in the end wall of the free outer end thereof. The channel 46 is disposed in parallelism with a diametrically disposed bore 45 which passes through medially the extent of the valve core 43, and which bore 45 is established in iixed communication with an axial bore 53 which is disposed in concentric relation therewith, and in axial relation with both the valve core 43 and the body member bore 38 which has been said to be in axial communication with the bore 36 associated with the nozzled electrode 37, wherein the composite of the said bores may be selectively established in communication with a bore 47 which is provided in both a laterally disposed stem 49 formed integrally with the body member 30, and the wall 48 thereof, therethrough, and which stern 49 is henceforth defined as valve port 49 having an exteriorly threaded end portion 50 which normally is disposed in threadedly sealed relation with a complementary cap closure 51, and in abutting relation with one end of a resilient slug 52 which is disposed in press titting interiitting and abutting relation with the closed end of the said cap closure 51, wherein the slug 52 serves to seal the valve port bore 47 as when the cap closure 51 is threadedly secured with the valve port 49, as has been previously described, and for the purpose of providing a seal for the body member 30 whereby the loss of a gas is obviated as when passing therethrough or stored therein, as would normally be lost to the atmosphere through the open end of the stuing box 41. There is therefore disposed in interfitting complementary relation therewith an elongated resilient washer 54 composed of hard rubber, which normally extends through the open end of the stuffing box 41 in surrounding relation with the spindle 44.

The rubber washer 54 is provided with a recessed axial bore in which is seated the metal washer S which is disposed in concentric relation therewith, and in contiguous axial relation with the planar face 56 of the shoulder 57 which interposes the valve core 43 and the spindle 44. The metal washer serves to break continuity between the rubber washer 54 and the Valve core 43 thereby reducing the friction thereon, as when the valve core 43 is manually rotated in a selective right or left hand direction in respect to the valve cylinder 40 by virtue of the spindle 44. Further, the planar face 58 as associated with the annulus 59 which surrounds the periphery of the metal washer 55, serves as a fixed seal when disposed in contiguous axial relation with the planar face 60 of the shoulder 61 which interposes both the cylinder 40 and the stutiing box 41, as when the rubber washer 54 is compressed therein and constricted about the periphery of the spindle 44 by the action of the cap closure 62 which complements threadedly the stuffing box rim 42, and slidably the spindle 44, thereby a gas tight seal is provided with the stuffing box 41 for the previously described reason. From the aforementioned combination of elements it is apparent that the pre-positioning of the valve core 43 in respect to its open or closed position in respect to the valve port 49 will be locked in fixed relation with the valve cylinder 40 by the thrust of the cap closure 62 acting on the rubber washer 54 as when fully extended threadedly onto the stuling box rim 42 whereby defining a lock nozzled electrode 64 which constitutes our invention for use in pairs in interlitting sleeved relation with the opposite end portions 26 and 27 of the tube 22, respectively, as when the terminal portions thereof complement slidably the tube nipples 33, 33, as has been said to be associated with the lock nozzled electrodes 64, 64, respectively. For the purpose of fixedly securing the said relation of each respective tube end portion 26 or 27 selectively and each respective tube nipple 33 there is for this reason provided the metal ferrule 65 which is adapted to complement slidably the exteriorly disposed periphery of the tube 22 in a manner wherein the ferrule 65 will be disposed in surrounding relation with the previously described sector shaped channel members 34, 34, as are associated with the tube nipple 33, and when a pair of detents 66, 66 are provided with the ferrule 65 in complementary relation with the channel members 34, 34, respectively, as by an accommodating tool, then it will be apparent that the wall 67 of the tube 22 will be further constricted into gas tight sealing relation with the tube nipple 33 by the deformation of the interposed wall p0rtion thereof, into complementary relation with both the sector shaped channel members 34, 34, and the detents 66, 66 respectively. For the purpose of supporting each respective lock nozzled electrode 64 in spaced lateral relation with the rearward side face 25 of base wall 15, as associated with the sign board 16 there is provided the bracket `69 which is composed of a non-electrical conducting material, as for example, Bakelite which is known to have an inherent insulating characteristic for resisting the passage of an electrical current therethrough by a substantially high voltage potential as may be bridged thereon, and further the material when cured assumes a rigid body which is easily machined.

The bracket 69 comprises a flat base wall member 70 having oppositely disposed bores 71, 71, spaced equally and adjacent the end walls 72, 72, respectively, therethrough, and an upstanding wall 73 which interposes the said bores 71, 71. The upstanding wall 73 is provided with an axial bore 74 therethrough which is spaced substantially from the base wall member and which bore 74 is adapted to complement a frictional slidable tit about the valve body member 30a. For the purpose of xedly securing the said relation therebetween there is provided the conventional set screw 75 which is disposed in threaded relation with the wall 73 and in radially disposed relation with the bore 74, in a manner whereby the screw 75 will abut the periphery of the valve body member 30 when extended thereon, and conventionally for the purpose of detachably securing the bracket 69 in laterally disposed relation with the base wall member 15, there is provided for use therewith the pair of slot headed machine screws 76, 76, which are adapted to complement slidably the bores 71, 71, as said to be associated with the base wall of the bracket 69, and threadedly the bores 77, 77, as shown in FIG. to be associated with the sign board base wall member 15, respectively. Further the view includes a slot headed wire terminal screw 78, which is disposed in threaded relation with the valve body member 30, of each lock nozzled electrodes 64, 64, wherein the screws 78, 78, serve to clampingly secure in continuity therewith, a pair of electrical conductors 79, 79, as illustrated in FIG. 2, which extend from the output side of a low current, high voltage potential transformer 80, having the input side thereof served by the low voltage feeders 81, 81, which are established within a conventional frequency range, wherein the use of said potential being henceforth described.

Now with further reference to FIG. 5, the view is shown to include the dual pair of arrows 82, 82, and 83, 83, each pair of which being disposed in opposed relation and in diametric relation with the outer face 84 of the cap closure member 62, wherein the Iarrows 82, 82, are aligned in parallelism with the central axis of the valve port bore 47 as when extended therethrough, and the arrows 83, 83, being transversely disposed at right angles thereto. The pairs of arrows 82, 82, and 83, 83, serve to point in the directions of the inscribed dual pairs of indicias reading open, open, and closed, closed respectively, and as it has been recited that the diametrically disposed bore 45 is adapted for selective communication with the valve port bore 47, as when the valve core 43 is rotated selectively. In either a right or left hand direction, as by the use of an accommodating tool not shown, having a non-conductive body member, and an end portion adapted to complement the channel 46 as associated with the valve core spindle 44, and which channel 46 shall henceforth be defined as indexing member 46, and which has been recited as being disposed in parallelism with the diametrically disposed bore 45, -is in turn aligned in diametric relation with the arrows 82, 82, which have been said to point in the direction of the indicias reading open, open, then it is apparent that the open position of each respective lock nozzle electrode 64 is thereby visually indicated, and conversely, when the indexing member 46 is disposed in diametric relation with the arrows 83, 83, which have been said to point in the directions of the indicias reading closed, closed, then it is apparent that the diametrically disposed bore 45 will be disposed in sealed relation with the wall of the cylinder member 40, and thereby obviating substantially the communication of the electrode bore 36 with the valve port bore 47, wherein it has been recited that the cap closure member 51 serves to completely Seal the said valve port bore 47 against communication with the atmosphere.

From the composite of recited elements of construction, as have been fully illustrated and described, it may now be readily described as to how the tube 22 may be transformed into a luminous body for the selective use thereof, wherein a valve po/rt 49, is established in communication with a cylinder having a neon gas stored therein, through an `interposed non-conductive conduit through which the neon gas is passed into the lumen of the tube 22 as when the associated indexing member 46 is disposed in the said open position, thereby the inherent pressure of the gas will force a column of air as may be disposed in the lumen of the tube 22 to egress through the opposite valve port 49, as when its sealing cap closure 51 is removed therefrom, and its associated indexing member is also disposed in the said open position in a manner whereby the air may be minutely bled therefrom. By virtue of a selective adjustment between the diametrically disposed bore 45 associated with the valve core 43, and the valve port bore 47 lwhereby the said bores `will be substantially offset one in respect to the other, and when a suicient quantity of the said gas has accumulated in the lumen of the tube 22 then the atoms of the gas will eventually become ionized when established in continuity with the pair of lock nozzled electrodes 64, 64, as when energized by said electrical potential, and thereby the tube 22 will glow, in a manner whereby the intensity of illumination as established by said ionized state of said gas atoms is determined both by the visual observation and experience of the mechanic thereof, wherein it is now apparent that the gas may be sealed for the infinite use thereof by virtue of the lock nozzled electrodes 64, 64, as when the pair of indexing members 46, 46, respectively, are visually observed to be disposed in co-axial relation with the pairs of arrows pointing to the pairs of indicias reading closed, closed, and closed, closed respectively, and when the pair of valve ports 49, 49 are sealed by the cap closure members 51, 51, respectively.

While particular embodiments of our invention have been illustrated and described, it being understood that modifications may henceforth become obvious and therefore it being contemplated by the appended claims to cover said modifications as fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a gaseous discharge tube of the cold cathode type, said tube having an elongated ilexible body composed of transparent plastic; of a pair of lock nozzled electrodes adapted for use with said tube, said lock nozzled electrodes being identical and each comprising a valve body formed cylindrical in shape, and composed of an electrical conductive material, an integral tube nipple provided in concentric extensible relation at one transverse end of said valve body, an electrode having a central axial opening provided therethrough, said electrode adapted for a press t inwardly the opening of said tube nipple, and in extensible relation therewith, said tube nipple being adapted for an inner sliding t with an end wall portion of said plastic tube wall, means to detachably secure said tubular wall end portions in detachably secured relation with said pair of tube nipples, in a manner whereby a gas tight joint is effected therebetween, a stuffing box, formed cylindrical in shape, disposed in recessed concentric relation with the opposite transverse end of said valve body, said stuffing box including an exteriorly threaded rim, defined by the surrounding wall thereof, a cylinder disposed in concentric relation with said stuing box inwardly said valve body, said cylinder having a lesser diameter than said stuffing box, whereby providing a shoulder flange interposed therebetween, a valve core disposed in rotatably sealed relation with said cylinder, said Valve core being provided with both a diametrically disposed opening therethrough, adjacent the outer transverse end thereof, and a central axial opening which extends from said diametric opening through the opposite transverse end of said valve core, said diametric opening being established in communication with the lumen of said plastic tube by an opening provided in the closure wall of said valve body therethrough, wherein said opening is disposed in complementary co-axial interposed relation with both the opening in said electrode, and the axial opening in said valve core, valve opening means provided integrally and laterally with said valve body, and in surrounding relation with said diametric opening, said valve opening means having an axial opening constituting a valve port, said valve port being established in communication with a co-axially aligned opening provided radially in the wall of said cylinder, thereby said valve port serves to pass a gas therethrough which maybe selectively ingressing or egressing the lumen of said plastic tube, as when said valve core is disposed in a manner wherein the diametric opening thereof is aligned in co-axial relation with said valve port, whereby dening the open position of said nozzled electrode, and conversely when said diametric opening is disposed at right angles to said port, said positioning then defines the closed position of said lock nozzled electrode, an elongated spindle provided in extensible integral relation with the central portion of said outer end portion associated with said valve core, said spindle adapted to extend through the open end of said stutling box, said spindle having a lesser diameter than said valve core whereby providing a shoulder flange interposed therebetween, a cup shaped closure member adapted to both surround slidably said spindle, and to complement threadedly said rim portion associated with said stuthng box, gas tight sealing means disposed in said stutllng box, and in slidable relation with said spindle, whereby the passing of a gas through the axial opening of said cap closure member is obviated, friction reducing means provided in surrounding relation with said spindle, and in interposed relation with both said gas tight sealing means and shoulder ilange associated with both said valve core and said spindle, support means for detachably securing said lock nozzled electrode in spaced relation with the wall of a base panel, a slot headed machine screw provided in screw threaded relation with said valve body, whereby said screw serves to detachable secure a conductor in continuity with said valve body for alternately passing a substantially high potential through said electrode, as when the opposite conductor of a step up single phase transformer is disposed in continuity with the opposite lock nozzled electrode in an identical manner, whereby said potential will serve to ionize the atoms of a conductive gas as may be sealed in said lumen associated with said plastic tube, and in communciation with said lock nozzled electrodes, and indexing means provided with said spindle and co-operating with said valve core whereby said wholly open or closed position of said lock nozzled electrode will be visually indicated, as when said valve core is manually rotated in either a right or left hand direction selectively by virtue of said spindle.

2. As claimed in claim i1, wherein the detachable securing means comprises a pair diametrically disposed and opposed channels formed sector in shape which are recessed in the peripheral surface of said tube nipple, medially the axial extent thereof, whereby a ferrule disposed in surrounding contiguous relation with said plastic tube and said channels, when provided with a pair of detents by an accommodating tool, into complementary relation therewith respectively, said plastic tube wall will be constricted in interlocking sealed relation with the peripheral surface of said tube nipple.

3. As claimed as claim 1, wherein said valve opening means comprises an exteriorly threaded pipe nipple provided integrally with said valve body, wherein said threaded pipe nipple provided integrally with said valve body, wherein said threaded portion serves normally to retain a cup shaped closure member therewith, wherein said cup shaped closure member is provided with an internally disposed rubber slug which serves to seal the port of said pipe nipple as when compressed thereon by the forward threading action of said closure member on to said pipe nipple.

4. As claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas tight sealing means as disposed in said stuillng box comprises a rubber washer of substantial thickness in its relaxed state, and

when compressed into said stuffing box, said rubber washer expands into contiguous sealing relation with the surrounding wall thereof, and in interposed abutting sealing relation with the closure wall of said cap closure member, and in abutting sealing relation with both the shoulder flange interposing said cylinder and said stulng box, and the shoulder flange interposing 'both said valve core and said spindle, and further, the axial opening of said washer will then be influenced to constrict itself about the peripheral surface of said spindle, as when said closure member is advanced threadedly on to said stuiling box.

5. As claimed in claim 1, wherein said friction reducing means comprises a metal washer having a diameter complementary to said valve core, and which said washer is recessed into flush relation with the inner face of said rubber washer, thereby said valve core may be readily rotated by virtue of said spindle.

6. As claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a bracket composed of a non-conductive electrical material having a ilat base wall member provided with a pair of screw openings therethrough adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and an upstanding wall member disposed in interposed relation with said screw openings, wherein said upstanding wall member is provided with an axial opening therethrough spaced substantially from said 'base wall member, and which said opening complements a slidable overfit on to said valve body, and which relation is secured by a set screw which transverses said axial opening as when disposed in screw threaded relation with said upstanding wall member.

7. As claimed in claim 1, wherein said indexing means comprises an open ended channel member disposed both in diametric relation with said spindle, and in parallelism with the diametric opening provided with said valve core, and surrounding said channel member there is provided a rst and second pair of radially spaced arrows which are inscribed in the exterior face of the closure member associated with said stufllng box, in a manner wherein said respective pairs of arrows are disposed in opposed coaxial relation, and at right angles in respect to each other, with said llrst pair of arrows being aligned in parallelism with said valve port, and which said pair of arrows point to a pair of indicias which are disposed in opposed relation reading open, open, respectively, with said second pair of arrows being aligned with a second pair of similarly arranged indicias reading closed, closed, respectively, whereby said channel member when selectively disposed in co-axial alignment with each respective said pairs of arrows will visually indicate either the wholly open or closed position of said valve core in respect to said valve port.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,377,496 4/1968 Fruengel et al 313-175 RAYMOND F. HOSSFELD, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. XR.

3l3-l09.5, 175, 220l 

